EU looks to AI as Germany becomes the biggest European military spender

(Hensoldt logo via Wikipedia)

COGwriter

The European Union is looking more into Artificial Intelligence for military and other applications:

March 10, 2026

As Europe moves to scale up defense investment and technological capacity, AI is quickly becoming central to the EU’s vision of strategic autonomy.

For Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders, AI is increasingly framed as a strategic capability — alongside energy security and semiconductor supply chains — particularly as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East reshapes threat perceptions and investment in defense tech intensifies.

At the January AI in Defence Summit, in Brussels, Commissioner Kubilius acknowledged the EU is “behind on investments” compared to the US and China, while stressing that Europe is “radically increasing defense investments.”

Yet the EU’s regulatory approach to AI sits uneasily with these ambitions.

While the European Commission is finalizing implementation guidance for the AI Act, the bloc’s defense sector is already developing and deploying AI systems under a sweeping military exemption that places them outside the Act’s risk-based framework. …

EU initiatives financed by the European Defense Fund include FaRADAI (EUR 18 million), with the involvement of multiple companies, including HENSOLDT, which develops adaptive AI for low-data military environments … what internal controls exist to ensure that knowledge, data, and tools developed under military-funded programs do not flow into civilian applications, or vice versa. HENSOLDT declined to respond substantively, directing all FaRADAI questions to the project coordinator and the relevant EU authority. https://www.techpolicy.press/europes-ai-act-leaves-a-gap-for-military-ai-entering-civilian-life/

Well, based on biblical prophecies, I expect AI technology, from military and other applications, to be used to help enforce the following:

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)

AI looks to be involved in the fulfillment of the ‘666’ prophecies.

Now, who is the AI company HENSOLDT? Wikipedia has the following:

Hensoldt AG (stylized in all caps) is a German multinational corporation headquartered in Munich which focuses on sensor technologies for protection and surveillance missions in the defence, security and aerospace sectors. The main product areas are radar, optoelectronics and avionics. Hensoldt’s main office is in Taufkirchen near Munich, Germany. (Hensoldt. WIkipedia, accessed 03/10/26)

AI is not the only area of German military interest.

Germany is racing towards once again having a powerful military.

A reader sent me a link to the following:

Germany the major driver of arms procurement

Germany has become the new big spender in the worldwide arms build-up, reveals think-tank data. But the billions diverted into weapons programmes are damaging an economy in need of education investment.

05 Mar 2026

BERLIN (own report) – Europe is currently the strongest driver of arms expenditure worldwide – and Germany the biggest driver of military procurement in Europe. This development is charted in a recent analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a London-based think-tank. The IISS report shows that, last year, Europe increased its military spending by 12.6 per cent. Germany, for its part, ramped up its military budget by a massive 18 per cent. The average global increase was 2.5 per cent. Consequently, Europe now accounts for 21 per cent of all military spending worldwide. If Berlin increases its defence budget to 150 billion euros in 2029 as planned, Germany alone would account for almost six per cent of arms expenditure, while having just one per cent of the world’s population. The IISS notes a strong procurement trend: European countries are increasingly having their armaments produced by domestic manufacturers as they seek to avoid dependency on US defence contractors. Exceptions to Europeanisation of arms supplies are products from the military aerospace industry, such as American F-35 fighter jets, although these are, of course, particularly expensive procurements. Economic experts have noted that the aim of creating a big arms industry that would generate an economic boom is destined to fail. A sustainable economic future would require much higher investment in education. However, this sector remains dramatically underfunded.

Military spending up 18 per cent

Last year, European countries were once again the main driving force behind the global expansion in military expenditure. This is shown from the latest statistics compiled by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and published at the end of February. According to the London-based think-tank, military budgets in 2025 rose globally by 2.5 per cent in real terms to 2.63 trillion US dollars.[1] To appreciate the scale, that figure is more than four times Germany’s total federal budget, which has been set at 525 billion euros (roughly 610 billion US dollars) for 2026. European countries again increased expenditure on their militaries, rising by 12.6 per cent to 563 billion US dollars last year. These states together now account for 21 per cent of global defence spending, up again from the 2022 figure of 17 per cent. Yet the Europeans account for less than seven per cent of the world’s population.[2] The IISS data shows that the main driver of European rearmament has been Germany, which increased its defence allocation by 18 per cent to 95 billion euros (107 billion dollars) in 2025. [2] The IISS data shows that the main driver of European rearmament has been Germany, which increased its defence allocation by 18 per cent to 95 billion euros (107 billion dollars) in 2025. If Berlin ramps up its defence budget to 150 billion euros by 2029 as envisaged, Germany would account for almost six per cent of all global military spending. Germany, incidentally, has only one per cent of the world’s population.

Two-thirds from Europe

The IISS have identified renewed efforts in Europe to purchase military hardware from contractors on its own continent rather than from the United States.

The rationale usually given for efforts to procure weapons from European production as much as possible is for Europe to escape dependence on the US. A second argument is that the many hundreds of billions of euros earmarked for investment in armaments over the next few years should benefit German and European companies rather than US industry. Politicians now regard the armaments boom as a way of stimulating the ailing economy. https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/10328

So, with 1% of the world’s population, Germany looks to be responsible for 6% of the world’s military spending.

And notice that Europe wants less dependence on the USA.

Furthermore, Germany is also taking other military steps. Notice that it wants to screen all young men for possible military service:

3 November 2025

Armed forces chief Carsten Breuer has dismissed proposals for a draft lottery, saying all young men should first be assessed to determine eligibility for military service.

Joining an ongoing national debate, he told the RND media group that screening entire age groups was vital to know who could serve.

Breuer argued that a random draw would hurt motivation and training quality. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-news-military-chief-wants-draft-checks-for-all-young-men/live-74592710

Some of what is happening in Europe, as well as USA policies and pressures, was warned about in my free eBook: Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? 

Below, in italics, are statements from that book, with the page numbers where the prediction can be found in the printed book shown within ():

Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. … Donald Trump is helping enable the rise of the King of the North/Beast power who will be in league with the final Antichrist. (p. 87)

Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves. … Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. (p. 88)

The Bible teaches about a great power who will be destroyed by its friends, who become enemies (Lamentations 1:1-2)—some statements by Donald Trump are pushing “friends” (NATO allies) into being enemies. (pp. 48-49)

By focusing too much on threats from China and almost always considering the Europeans as some type of allies, a Donald Trump Administration is currently not expected to reverse the Asian ‘pivot’ strategy (p. 63).

Europe to Rise

How can Europe rise up?

Technology appears to be the key to a powerful European military. One aspect could include particle collider research. The number of colliders in the USA dwindled down to one under the Obama and Bush Administrations[i] and the one that is left, “pales next to Europe’s Large Hadron Collider.”[ii]

The Large Hadron collider has been producing antimatter for years and in 2024 discovered the antimatter particle, antihyperhelium-4, which is the heaviest form of antimatter thus far found.[iii] Antimatter has destructive properties, and the Europeans look to be the leaders in working with it.[iv]

Europe has the leading collider in the world, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and Germany is working on a possibly even more advanced one called FAIR (F.A.I.R. stands for the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) which expects to start operations in 2027/2028.[v] 3000 scientists are reportedly involved with FAIR.[vi] PESCO is involved in numerous military technological projects.[vii]

It looks like Germany’s FAIR, along with the LHC and other technology like the stellarator, will help the Europeans produce military weaponry to fulfill certain end-time prophecies. Since Revelation 13:4 is discussing what seems to be a unique type of warfare, this warfare likely includes certain high-tech weapons (such as electromagnetic pulse, neutron bombs, unique delivery systems, etc.) that will be effective for a while. The FAIR and the LHC projects are also likely to spin-off economic benefits that may help propel Europe to be (for a short while) the economic leader of the world (cf. Revelation 18). Ultimately, the Europeans will be overcome by what appears to be a Russian-led, mainly Asian, confederation, cf. Jeremiah 50:41-43 & Daniel 11:44, possibly by exploiting some technological flaw, like creating a software virus, etc., while also amassing troops, etc.

The European Space Agency and other European programs related to technology like Horizon Europe are expected to bear fruit to the economic and military power of Europe shortly. Many projects are ongoing that will assist Europe.[viii] (pp. 180-181)

[i] Matson J. Nuclear Decelerator: Last U.S. Particle Collider is on Chopping Block.  Scientific American, August 24, 2012

[ii] ^{Wolchover N. In LHC’s Shadow, America’s Collider Awakens. Quanta magazine, March 6, 2015}

[iii] Hrinko I. The heaviest antimatter particle is found in the Large Hadron Collider. Universe Space Tech magazine, December 30, 2023

[iv] Fox K. Antimatter Explosions. NASA, updated May 3, 2023

[v] FAIR Facility for Antiproton and Ion European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures. 2024 edition,  https://ri-portfolio.esfri.eu/ri-portfolio/portfolio-editions/2024-first-edition/catalogue/fair/

[vi] FAIR – An International Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research.  http://www.fair-center.eu/ accessed 12/02/16

[vii] ^{PESCO Projects. European External Action Service, November 15, 2021}

[viii] ^{Horizon Europe. European Council, https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en accessed 11/11/24}

Many in the USA do not seem to realize that once Europeans are spending more for their militaries, they will also expect to have more independence from the USA as to how military might will be used. (p. 63). Although, overall, the European nations have not paid for their defense to the amount they have suggested they would, pressuring them to spend more will 1) encourage them to be independent of the USA (p. 213).

Consider that on 25 February 2025, Germany’s Friedrich Merz called for military independence from the United States (https://abcnews.go.com/International/germany-move-independence-us-new-leader/story?id=119115938). On 25 June 2025, others in the EU pushed for military independence from the USA (https://www.dw.com/en/eu-pushes-for-independent-defense-amid-nato-strain/video-73032325). Technology will be a factor–and more in Europe are starting to realize that.

Much has happened related to the Trump Administration.

While there have been many positives, there also have been, and will be, many unintended consequences of it.

Could Donald Trump, various fears, pandemics, migrants, economic issues, or other ‘crises’ lead to a ‘fourth reich’ in Germany?

Notice something about Germany’s history published decades ago by the old Worldwide Church of God:

In 1933 Adolf Hitler, using Germany’s growing economic crisis as a stepping-stone to power, gained control of Germany, inaugurating the Third Reich of German history.

It quickly became clear that Hitler’s geopolitical aims far transcended his own country’s borders. Hitler held an unshakable conviction that his German Reich would one day rule all of Europe — and from there seize the leadership of the world! He dreamed of a “new world order” that would remake the political face of the earth, with himself at its helm.

In 1939 Hitler began in earnest his struggle for the mastery of the world. (Stump K. Coming Soon – A New World Order. Good News, 1985)

Adolf Hitler used an economic crisis to rise up and form his so-called third reich.

Could there be some type of a ‘fourth reich’ this century to follow the ‘third reich’ of last century?

The old Radio Church of God thought so, even decades earlier:

The “German Problem” is not dead. Germans are thinking more than ever of an undivided Reich – and of an undivided Europe! … On the 17th of June, Germans celebrated a national holiday a day dedicated to AN UNDIVIDED GERMANY. Stores closed. No one worked. The striking thing is that this day signifies something that has not happened yet! Most holidays commemorate an event – something that has already taken place. Not this one – it looks forward to an event which all Germans hope for and even pray for – AN UNDIVIDED GERMANY! (Kelly R. The March for an Undivided Germany. Plain Truth, September 1964)

Well, since that came out, East and West Germany united, the European Union formed, and a European currency has been implemented.

So, is a ‘fourth reich’ in the process of forming? Some in Germany and elsewhere seem to think so. We continue to see Germany taking military steps.

Now this does not mean that everyone in Germany wants it to militarily dominate the world, but Bible prophecy shows that deep down, those there do want to dominate.

Notice the following prophecy:

5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
‘Are not my princes altogether kings? (Isaiah 10:6-8)

Notice that the leader of the final empire will not think that he wants to destroy nations, but he really does, and really will.

Notice that Isaiah tells of a time when the end time Assyrian power will be sent against an ungodly nation (NKJV), translated as “an hypocritical nation” in the KJV. The Hebrew word used signifies being “soiled” or impious, and certainly that is now the case for the nation known as the United States.

What exactly is the ‘fourth reich’? Notice one interpretation:

The Fourth Reich (German: Viertes Reich) is a theoretical future German empire, following the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire, 962–1806), the Second Reich (Imperial Germany, 1871–1918) and the Third Reich (Nazi Germany, 1933–1945). (Wikipedia, accessed 04/03/15)

Some believe that Germany already has a type of fourth reich as it has been able to dominate European matters at least for the past decade or so.

Biblically, the final European King of the North will lead a revived ‘Holy Roman Empire.’ This will be the empire of the Beast power of Revelation 13. This new world order, which will have German dominance, will in a sense be its fourth militaristic reich (reich means reign).

The Bible prophesies that Europe will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25), various weapons, and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40).

Germany’s chancellor, yesterday, basically said that Germany would work to get both.

Furthermore, technology will, in my view, be key in the establishment of a militaristic fourth reich, consistent with scriptures such as Revelation 13:4. And yes, Europe is working on military-related technologies.

A ‘fourth reich’ is in the process of being made, but it is not here yet.

The Continuing Church of God put together the following video in 2025 on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

14:32

Germany’s Great Army – Any Problems? WWIII?

At long last, from the perspective of the United States, Germany is stepping up to the plate and greatly increasing its military spending. The politicians in Germany have found a way to bypass the legal limitation on debt enshrined in the Basic Law. This is intended to enable them to develop the military and weaponry they feel is needed to protect themselves from potential threats. The Germans and 75% of NATO feel they have to take these type of steps because they feel the USA can no longer be relied on to help protect them militarily. Politico asked about Germany’s military rebuilding, “What Could Go Wrong?” Could this rebuilding be part of the rise of the “Fourth Reich”? If so, what would this mean? What were the first three Reichs? The so-called ‘Holy Roman Empire’ was the first. Imperial Germany of the 19th century was the second. Adolph Hitler’s Nazi Germany was the third. Can the rise of the fourth Reich be related to a revival of some type of the Holy Roman Empire? The Bible shows that the final King of the North will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40). Could that be Germany, which is also working on many military technologies, including supercollider research? Consider, further, that the Bible tells of a power that had been unsuccessful going against a prosperous nation with a strong military before (WWI and WII?), but will finally succeed per Daniel 11:24 and Daniel 11:39. Could the next attempt be World War III and the end of the United States of America? Could the USA be the ungodly/hypocritical nation of Isaiah 10:7 that God says He will use the end-time descendants of Assyria to punish? Are there any prophetic and historic ties between ancient Assyria and the Germanic peoples of Central Europe? Watch this video and listen as Dr. Thiel shines the light of Biblical prophecy right from the pages of the Bible on the full ramifications of the rise of the Beast whose deadly wound was healed!

Here is a link to our video: Germany’s Great Army – Any Problems? WWIII?

Consider the following prophecy from the Book of Daniel related to the final European King of the North:

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24)

Consider that the German-European alliance was defeated in WWI and WWII. So, the fathers (WWII) and forefathers (WWI) of the final King of the North failed to defeat the UK and USA those two times. But notice that he is prophesied to be successful against the strongholds, in this case meaning the military alliance of the USA and UK. The third time basically is WWIII and the Germanic-European King of the North Beast power will succeed per Daniel 11:24 and Daniel 11:39 (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

Yes, Germany was defeated twice last century. But notice also the following prophecy from the Book of Revelation:

14 … the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. (Revelation 13:14)

Germany, along with remnants of the old ‘Holy Roman Empire,’ were wounded by the swords of WWI and WWII, but has Germany has lived and now is mainly recovered from its prior wounds. And the EU is rising to be the final version of the old Holy Roman Empire.

Germany is more and more committed to becoming a major military power again.

Many in Europe are supporting that.

There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: ¿Deben los Diez Reyes gobernar sobre diez naciones? A related sermon in the English language is titled: Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
The Large Hadron Collider has Military Potential Some say this European project is only peaceful. So why is it working on capturing antimatter? Here is a link to a related video: Could the Large Hadron Collider lead to destruction?
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill?  Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill?  Is a Donald Trump presidency proving to be apocalyptic?  Three related videos are available: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? and Donald Trump’s Prophetic Presidency and  Donald Trump and Unintended Consequences.
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies?  Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.